Months after unsafe radon is found at schools, letters sent to parents

By Linda Conner Lambeck, STAFF WRITER

Published
11:54 pm EDT, Thursday, October 22, 2009

BRIDGEPORT -- Seven months after tests showed that 29 areas in 12 city schools have levels of radon that need remediation, letters are being sent home to parents in student backpacks, notifying them of the results.

During a hastily called news conference Thursday, school and city health officials insisted the schools are safe for students and staff.

Albertina Baptista, a city sanitarian, said there is a likelihood there are higher levels of radon present in many local homes than in the schools. "Radon is everywhere," she said. "The only way to know is to test, and we encourage testing."

Radon is a tasteless, odorless radioactive gas that can increase risk of lung cancer. It occurs naturally, emanating from soil, rock and sometimes water.

The testing at 39 schools in the district last January and March was prompted by a new state law that requires schools be tested for radon levels every five years. Anything above 4.0 picocuries -- a measure of radioactivity -- per liter, needs remediation.

Areas where the unsafe levels were registered include classrooms, libraries and offices.

Some of the readings fluctuate. A January reading in the Central High School library showed a reading of 35.0. A second reading showed a level of 6.0.

Notices about the test results were not sent out until the Connecticut Post published an article Thursday. Notices had previously been sent out to notify people that tests were being conducted.

Jorge Garcia, acting director of building operations and facilities planning for the school district, called the response proactive. He said results were filed in the offices of each school as is required by law. However, he could not explain how parents or the public would know the reports where there since no notice was ever made.

Veronica Douglas-Givan, communications director for the district, suggested the departure of Al Hines, the former director of building operations, may have led to a notification breakdown. Hines did not leave until late August.

In-house efforts last week to warn the Central High School community of the presence of high levels of radon were thwarted. Central librarians, who knew of the testing in the library and the results, posted a sign warning visitors that parts of the library had high concentrations of radon.

They were told the signs might cause hysteria in the school, said Adrian Hincapie, 17, a Central senior who Wednesday started petition drives -- one for students, the other for staff -- asking state health officials to step in and correct the problem. So far, Hincapie has collected about 120 student signatures and 20 from staff.

In addition to concerns about the radon, Hincapie said students whose homeroom is based in the library -- including his younger brother -- have to keep their coats on because the windows are kept open for ventilation in an effort to dissipate the gas.

Jennifer Eielson, another city Health Department sanitarian at the news conference, said health staff met Wednesday with school officials and are satisfied the district is taking the appropriate steps to remedy the problem. She, along with school officials, said using schools where there are high levels of radon is not a health problem because students spend only a limited part of their day in school or any one classroom.

The law gives school districts one year to make corrections. The district is seeking bids from radon-mitigation contractors. The chosen contractor will install piping and fans from the affected areas to the exterior roof line of each school.

Garcia expects the work will be done within 45 days of selecting a vendor and will cost about $80,000.